portland home inspection: Smart Ways to Unclog a Drain
- 01/31/11 02:29 AM
With a few inexpensive household items, you can avoid a costly visit from the plumber by clearing drain clogs yourself. Using cola..Pour 3 cups of warm cola down your drain and let it sit overnight; the citric acid in the soda will break up any buildup in your pipes. In the morning, run hot water to help flush the remains. Dissolve it with fizz.Drop 3 denture tablets down the drain followed with a cup of vinegar. When mixed together, they bubble to dissolve drain buildup. After the bubbling stops, run hot water down the drain. Bubble break.Pour a 1/2 cup … (3 comments)
portland home inspection: Wood Flooring Choices
- 01/28/11 03:44 AM
Wood floors come in a variety of materials. When it comes to choosing the best floor for your needs, consider the room it will be used in, the subfloor/existing floor, preferable design and cost. Solid Hardwood Floor lasts the longest and can go through many refinishing cycles. Hardwood is an excellent design solution and comes in materials such as oak, maple and ash. Engineered Floor provides all the benefits of hardwood but does not require a subfloor. It can be refinished and installed on any surface. Engineered flooring is made of wood, but is not solid. It is a laminated … (0 comments)
portland home inspection: A Safe & Warm Winter
- 01/28/11 03:30 AM
Every winter homeowners turn to supplemental heat sources such as gas fireplaces, generators, space heaters, wood stoves and kerosene heaters to reduce home utility costs and stay warm. When using a supplemental heat source to save energy and money this winter, keep safety top of mind to prevent fire and Carbon Monoxide dangers - two of the most common winter safety hazards. Below is some safe heating advice. Keep space heaters at least three feet from people, pets or anything that can burn, especially furniture and curtains. Look for products that have built-in safety features like automatic shutoffs, anti-tipping devices … (0 comments)
R-value measurements are subject to a fair amount of ridicule, especially by marketers of radiant barriers. As it turns out, however, the ridicule is mostly unwarranted. R-value is a measure of a material's resistance to heat transfer. Before 1945, resistance to heat flow was measured by referring to a material's U-factor. The lower a material's U-factor, the better the material is at resisting the flow of heat. Because many people assume that high numbers on a scale are "better" than low numbers, insulation manufacturers found it hard to market insulation by … (4 comments)
portland home inspection: Chill chasers, bill savers
- 12/17/10 02:17 AM
Common heating problems solved!Are you turning up your thermostat - and your energy bills - but still feeling cold? We've created a special checklist just for you to help identify the cause as well as some simple low-cost and no-cost solutions. You'll feel cozier and save energy. Many of these easy tips work for renters, too. Problem: Blocked or lost heatSolutions: Move furniture and drapes so they don't block heating vents or baseboard heaters. Make sure heat registers are fully open. On forced air systems, if ductwork is easy to reach, verify that dampers on the ductwork haven't been closed. Also … (4 comments)
portland home inspection: Presents For the Would-be Energy Savers Among Family and Friends
- 12/11/10 06:47 AM
With Black Friday behind us, it's time for my annual Christmas shopping list - ideas for energy-saving and green living gifts this holiday season. Most of these products can be purchased locally - benefiting the local economy. Discounts may be available for both in-store and online purchases. Concept SL-100 Solar-Powered LED Security Light I haven't actually used this product, but I read user reviews of some of the leading solar security lights, and the Concept SL-100 32 LED Solar Security Light with Motion Detector seems to be the top-rated product right now. It is installed without an electrician and requires no … (0 comments)
portland home inspection: Interior vs. exterior foundation drains
- 12/08/10 02:19 AM
Q: We need to install a drain system on an existing home. The recommendations we've gotten have all advised a drain system inside the basement, not outside. I have always thought that outside drain systems were more effective. What is the best way to go? A: For an existing home with a wet basement or crawlspace, several things should be addressed before any drainage system is installed. First, make sure the grade is pitched away from the house to drain away surface water effectively. The grade should not be any closer to the siding than 6 in. because of rot and … (1 comments)
portland home inspection: Get a free Energy Saver Kit
- 11/05/10 03:44 AM
Special offer for select customers from PGE andEnergy Trust of OregonFree kit to help control your energy bills includes: •· Four compact fluorescent light bulbs, which use up to 75 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs •· High-performance showerhead that uses 20 percent less water to control water-heating costs •· Two faucet aerators that use 20 percent less water Savings on water and energy are based on manufacturers estimates. With free delivery, easy installation instructions and home energy-savings tips, this valuable kit makes saving energy a cinch. http://energytrust.org/esaverkits/default.aspx?src=pgemail … (2 comments)
portland home inspection: Waste Management for New Construction and Remodeling
- 11/01/10 03:33 AM
About 75% of new construction and up to 25% of whole-house remodeling jobs can be recovered, not landfilled. The key materials tend to be cardboard, wood, metals and clean gypsum board. A big part of building green is managing the job site's "tailpipe." What you throw out on a job can say an awful lot about overall project management, from your scopes of work to budgeting to job site practices. Know what you throwThe first step in developing a waste management plan that will work is to do some job site waste audits. If the projects you do vary widely in … (0 comments)
A radiant barrier is a shiny panel or flexible membrane used in construction. Although radiant barriers have no R-value, they can be used as part of a building assembly - for example, an assembly made up of a radiant barrier and an air space - to slow heat transfer. The sale and distribution of radiant barriers has always attracted a disproportionate share of scam artists, many of whom promise impossible energy savings. The explanations made by these hucksters usually include multiple references to space vehicles and NASA. Having been swayed by this … (1 comments)
portland home inspection: “USGBC v. Energy Efficiency” Finds Its Way to Litigation
- 10/25/10 06:00 AM
One of USGBC's more vocal critics claims in a class-action lawsuit that meeting LEED standards doesn't deliver as promised on energy efficiency, water efficiency, or air quality. The suit highlights important issues, but will it hold up in court? This is an interesting time for proponents and detractors of the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design program. As one the most popular green-building certification services in the nation, LEED also is also one of the biggest targets of critics who find fault, in various areas, with its rating system. One common complaint is that energy efficiency … (0 comments)
portland home inspection: How Can You Tell if Moisture in Your Basement is From the Air or the Outside?
- 10/12/10 12:30 PM
Try taping foil to the walls in the basement in several spots and wait to see whether any condensation appears. If the water is trapped between the wall and foil, then it is coming through from the outside. If there is condensation on the outside of the foil, then the moisture is from air leaks or high humidity in the house. This is a low cost place to start you on the road to figuring out what is wrong and what you'll need to do to fix the problem. … (1 comments)
In the last few years, energy consultants have developed a quick and easy way to pinpoint air leaks in a building envelope. The technique uses a theatrical fog machine - a small, inexpensive device that creates smoke-like fog for dances, Halloween parties, or theatrical events. Fog machines have heating elements that vaporize "fog juice," a solution of water and glycol or water and glycerin. With the help of a blower door or a window fan, a fog machine can dramatically reveal holes in a building envelope. With Air Leaks, It's All About … (1 comments)
Stopping air is the second most important job of a building enclosureNext to rain, air leaks through walls, roofs and floors can have the biggest effect on the durability of a house. Uncontrolled air flow through the shell can not only carry moisture into framing cavities, causing mold and rot, it can account for a huge portion of a home's energy use and cause indoor air quality problems to boot. So tight houses are … (1 comments)
portland home inspection: Good News for Homeowners with Defective Chinese Drywall
- 10/01/10 05:03 AM
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued guidance to homeowners who have had problems with Chinese drywall on how they can claim a tax deduction to help cover the costs of repairs to their home. The drywall tax guidance (pdf), issued this week, flushes out the details on how homeowners can recoup some losses from defective drywall imported from China and takes effect for any filings submitted after September 29, 2010. The IRS first told U.S. lawmakers that it would provide taxpayers with an avenue for relief from damages in July 2009 in a letter to Senator Jim Webb. The … (0 comments)
portland home inspection: Rebates for Gas Furnaces and Water Heaters is Expiring Soon.
- 09/30/10 04:43 AM
Act now or lose $1,500. The federal energy tax credit is about to expire. Install a high-efficiency natural gas furnace and tankless water heater from a NW Natural Certified Contractor and get up to $2,590 back in rebates, tax and gas credits. After December 31, 2010 at least $1,500 of these incentives will fly out the window. Get up to $2,590 back if your natural gas furnace and/or tankless water heater is installed by year-end. This expires December 31, 2010. This offer is available for existing homeowners (not applicable on new construction). The offer is available from September 1, 2010 through … (1 comments)
portland home inspection: Time to Clean Your Lint Trap and Exhaust Duct on Your Dryer
- 09/29/10 03:43 AM
How Often: Twice a year Why: Increase dryer's lifespan and efficiency while reducing risk of fire What do I do? • In addition to removing lint from the lint trap after each load, periodically give your lint trap a thorough cleaning by scouring it gently using a soft brush, warm water, and dish soap. • Use a lint brush or vacuum attachment to remove accumulated lint from under the lint trap and other accessible places. • Disconnect, clean, and inspect the exhaust duct. Vacuum accumulated dust from the exhaust duct and under the dryer. WARNING: Be careful when you move the … (0 comments)
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